[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-158764-105":59,"doc-detail-158764-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","national-merit-scholars-program-understanding-the-process","National Merit Scholars Program Understanding the Process","","The National Merit Scholars Program (NMSP) provides a structured pathway for high school students to achieve academic recognition and potential scholarships. The process begins in a student's junior year with the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which serves as the sole qualifying examination for entry into the NMSP competition. Eligibility for Semifinalist status is determined by state-specific cutoff scores. Following Semifinalist designation, students are required to apply for Finalist standing in early October, with approximately 90% of Semifinalists successfully advancing. Official notification letters for Finalists are distributed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in early February, while students who do not advance to Finalist status receive their notifications in January. A key aspect of the program allows Finalists to designate their preferred college or university as their \"school of choice\" at osa.nationalmerit.org, with the flexibility to change this designation multiple times until the end of April. The program offers three types of awards: Corporate, National, and College Sponsor. Recipients of Corporate and National awards are notified in early March. The College Sponsor award letters, from partnering institutions, are dispatched to Finalist recipients in early May. It is important to note that not all universities are partnering institutions, and UT Dallas is identified as one such institution. The program aims to demystify the application process and offers contact information for support.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/national-merit-scholars-program-understanding-the-process/158764/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/national-merit-scholars-program-understanding-the-process/158764.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Ophelia","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-12","2026-08-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":81},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the first step in the National Merit Scholars Program competition?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The first step is to take the PSAT in your junior year. This exam is the only qualifying entrance examination for the competition.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does a student become a Finalist in the National Merit Scholars Program?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Semifinalists apply for Finalist standing in early October. Approximately 90% of Semifinalists advance to become Finalists.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"When can a student change their \"school of choice\"?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"A student can change their \"school of choice\" as many times as they like until the end of April, through the website osa.nationalmerit.org.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},158764,1788007441,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":81,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":8,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":81},7971461741311,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/74000253aff267980c6?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779345379180704826","National Merit Scholars Program Understanding the Process  \n[UTDallas.edu/nmsp](UTDallas.edu/nmsp)  \nThe path to becoming a National Merit Scholar can be confusing, we are here to help. Contact us at [nationalmerit@UTDallas.edu](nationalmerit@UTDallas.edu) or (972) 883-4285.  \n1  \nTAKE THE PSAT  \nIn your junior year, take the PSAT. This PSAT is the only qualifying entrance exam into the National Merit competition. Cutoff scores to achieve  \nSemifinalist standing vary by state.  \n3 APPLY FOR FINALIST STANDING  \nIn early October, Semifinalists apply for  \nFinalist standing. Approximately 90% of Semifinalists will advance to a become Finalist in the competition.  \n5 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED  \nIn early February, NMSC will mail notification letters to the list of Finalists.  \nPermanent Semifinalists (those who do not advance to Finalist standing) are notified in January. Through the end of April, you may change your “school of choice” as many times as you like [at osa.nationalmerit.org](at osa.nationalmerit.org).  \n7 AWARD LETTERS MAILED  \nAll Scholars receive one of three awards. Those receiving the Corporate or National awards will be notified early March. The College Sponsor award letters from partnering institutions will be mailed to Finalist recipients in early May.  \nUT Dallas is a partnering institution (not all universities are partnering institutions) .","cbCaiuViWLVkrflS","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuViWLVkrflS","pdf",818128,"English","# National Merit Scholars Program\n## Understanding the Process\n1 TAKE THE PSAT\n3 APPLY FOR FINALIST STANDING\n5 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED\n7 AWARD LETTERS MAILED","[{\"question\":\"What is the first step in the National Merit Scholars Program competition?\",\"answer\":\"The first step is to take the PSAT in your junior year. This exam is the only qualifying entrance examination for the competition.\"},{\"question\":\"How does a student become a Finalist in the National Merit Scholars Program?\",\"answer\":\"Semifinalists apply for Finalist standing in early October. Approximately 90% of Semifinalists advance to become Finalists.\"},{\"question\":\"When can a student change their \\\"school of choice\\\"?\",\"answer\":\"A student can change their \\\"school of choice\\\" as many times as they like until the end of April, through the website osa.nationalmerit.org.\"}]","National Merit Scholars Program Understanding the Process | PDF"]